By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2634) of Natalie M. Higgins and others relative to indecent assault and battery committed by law enforcement officers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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Date
Branch
Action
3/19/2026
House
3/19/2026 HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5254↗ (under House Rule 27)
—
House
— HouseReported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
9/11/2025
Joint
9/11/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 09/25/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateSenate concurred
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
An Act relative to civil remedies for sexual assault by an officer
Active
3 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Section 13H½ of Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-
For the purposes of this section, “control” shall include, but not be limited to, supervising a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program; interacting with a person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power to charge or arrest a person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power could lawfully be exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or influence while acting under color of law.
For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
▸SECTION 2
Section 22 of said Chapter 265, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-
For the purposes of this subsection, “control” shall include, but not be limited to, supervising a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program; interacting with a person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power to charge or arrest a person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power could lawfully be exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or influence while acting under color of law.
For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
▸SECTION 3
Each law enforcement agency shall create, within 180 from the passage of this bill, a policy that prohibits law enforcement officers from knowingly and willingly engaging in sexual contact with the suspect of a criminal investigation of prostitution during the course of an investigation conducted by that officer. The policy shall be posted and made publicly available.
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SECTION 1. Section 13H½ of Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-
For the purposes of this section, “control” shall include, but not be limited to, supervising a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program; interacting with a person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power to charge or arrest a person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power could lawfully be exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or influence while acting under color of law.
For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
SECTION 2. Section 22 of said Chapter 265, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-
For the purposes of this subsection, “control” shall include, but not be limited to, supervising a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program; interacting with a person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power to charge or arrest a person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power could lawfully be exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or influence while acting under color of law.
For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
SECTION 3. Each law enforcement agency shall create, within 180 from the passage of this bill, a policy that prohibits law enforcement officers from knowingly and willingly engaging in sexual contact with the suspect of a criminal investigation of prostitution during the course of an investigation conducted by that officer. The policy shall be posted and made publicly available.